A federal judge has dismissed a $1.5 million lawsuit filed by a Millington businessman against the city's police department -- a decision that came a day before the death of former chief Ray Douglas, a defendant in the case.

The decision by U.S. Dist. Judge Jon McCalla was handed down March 12. Douglas died the next morning of complications from an illness.

The lawsuit by Marlin Roberts, owner of Transmission Doctors, was filed in December, 2012 after felony drug charges against Roberts were dropped. Roberts was indicted on 15 counts of drug-related charges based on work by a confidential informant, whose credibility later came into question.

Douglas, the City of Millington and two officers -- Michael Rose and D. Frazier -- were named as defendants in Roberts' complaint that his civil rights were violated. McCalla's judgment states that "all claims by Plaintiff against Defendants are hereby dismissed..."

Steven Roberts, attorney for the Millington business owner, said the dismissal was "procedural" because of immunity granted to the officers during the criminal investigation. He said Roberts is considering a possible appeal.

Ed McKenney, who represented the police officers and the city, said the defendants followed investigative procedures and turned the evidence over to the District Attorney General's office, which presented the case to the grand jury, leading to indictments against Marlin Roberts.

"It's a matter of law. This goes right to the merits," McKenney said. "We didn't do anything to violate his civil rights,"